V8 2WD Starter questions

[429CJ-3X2]

My son called me at work this morning to say his '97 Mountaineer V8 2WD won't start. He knows very little about cars, but says he thinks the starter "broke". I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I think he's probably right and the starter is the problem. In the nearly 2 years we've had it, I don't think I've ever heard it start when I didn't question whether it was going to turn over. Sounds like it is barely going to turn over whether it's 0 or 85. It started when he left home this morning (7 degrees), but didn't 3 hours later. I have 2 questions-

1) Is the same starter used for 2WD and AWD? Both Advanced Auto and O'Reilly's show 2 starters for it. The difference looks to be whether it has the spade or post connector on the solenoid. Neither website asked whether it has 2WD or AWD.

2) How difficult is it to change the starter - V8 2WD? I know the V6 SOHC 4WD starter is a royal pain in the 2nd Gens. I'm hoping this one isn't that bad because it's only 10 degrees, and I think it's in the church parking lot, not at home. Fortunately he can get by without it for a few days and it can stay where it is. And it's supposed to be a lot warmer the next couple days.

 

[delexploder]

The V8 starter is way easier to change, just did mine Christmas eve , also if you have a spare 6cyl starter laying around you can swap the nose over , the nose is the only difference , as for the solenoid all my 97s are post and nut

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Thanks. That's what I hoped and expected to hear. After talking to him, I'm less sure it's the starter. Could just be the battery.

Unfortunately, the Mountaineer started at least twice for him this morning and he made it to his chiropractor 10 miles away, and that's where it sits - in a small town with no parts store - not at home or a mile away at church with a dozen parts stores within 5 miles. It's going to take at least 2 trips to get it going and back home.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

False alarm! I just went over (in the 6 degree cold, in the dark, and of course by myself since son and wife are gone tonight), cleaned the battery terminals and got it to turn over just fine. Didn't start before the battery gave out. We'll go back & jump it tomorrow when it's 35 and daylight, get it home & charge the battery. I was going to bring the battery home tonight, but the bolt through the hold-down didn't want to let go. My fingers were too cold to continue to fight it by that time. It might be enough warmer tomorrow that it will start without the jump start.

I'll file the info regarding the starter for another day.

 

[delexploder]

I will add if you ever do end up doing that starter break the bolts loose with a long 13 mm or 1/2 in box wrench and when you get them out a bit you can switch to a 1/4 in drive ratchet then drop it down and get the wires , good luck with the battery , I just had to service my main one and my spare , had to charge them both with the caps off to see what cells were week and then top with distilled water and a teaspoon of Epsom salt , now I can cram them up to about 14 volts and they are holding charge again